How to Recover Deleted CCTV Footage?

What does CCTV footage mean?

Known as video surveillance, CCTV (Closed-circuit television) uses video cameras to send a signal to a specific location and display it on a limited number of monitors. It differs from broadcast television in that the signal is not broadcast openly, but it may use point-to-point (P2P), point-to-multipoint (P2MP), or mesh-wired or wireless links.

CCTV cameras are commonly installed in areas that are frequently crime hotspots, such as entrances and exits. Besides, it can be used to keep an eye on pets, or children in the home, and monitor blind spots around the home.

How to recover deleted CCTV footage from DVR?

As you can see, the Micro SD card is the data carrier of CCTV cameras. In this scenario, recovering deleted videos from CCTV footage refers to recovering data from Micro SD cards. There’re two feasible data recovery tools for you.

Method 1. Recover deleted CCTV footage with Windows File Recovery

If you’re proficient in CMD, it’s possible for you to recover data from Micro SD card with Windows File Recovery released by Microsoft. It interacts with users through a command-line interface because there is no accessible graphical user interface.

You’ll be prompted to use CMD to recover files if you’re going to recover the lost files from your local storage media (HDD/SSD/USB/SD card/Micro SD card) via this command-line software.   

Notes:✎...   

It allows you to recover Word, PPT, Excel, MP3, MP4, ZIP, PDF, PNG, MPEG, and JPEG.

The destination drive (where to save your retrieved files) is different from the source drive (the Micro SD card saves your needed files before data loss).

Two basic modes (Extensive and Regular) and two advanced modes (Segment and Signature) support NTFS, FAT, exFAT, and ReFS file systems.   

Click This PC > the source drive > Properties to figure out your file system.

Select a suitable mode according to your file system and data loss scenarios.

Resemble your needed command lines with the following form according to winfr source-drive: destination drive: [/mode] [/switches].

Step 1. Click “Get” to download Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store, then install it on your PC.

Step 2. Click “Open” after installation. Then put your adjusted command lines in the window. For instance, if you desire to recover deleted videos (MP4 files) from the F drive to the D drive, you need to enter “winfr F: D: /extensive /n *.mp4” in the command prompt window.

Step 3. Press the “y” key to continue. You can also press the “Ctrl + C” keys to stop the recovery process.

Method 2. Recover deleted CCTV footage with video recovery software for Windows

Undeniably, these complex command lines could discourage non-tech users from using Windows File Recovery. At the moment, why not seek help from another more friendly video recovery software?

Supported by advanced high-tech, professional MyRecover makes it easier for you to recover data from Micro SD cards. Compared with the command-line software above, there is no need for you to type corresponding command lines.

★Please get an overview of this utility below.      

Recover the deleted/lost files from SSD, HDD, USB flash drive, Micro SD card, and other storage media.

Recover 200+ types of data: Word, Excel, PPT, Photos, Videos, Audio, Emails, Webpages, and Compressed files.

Retain its original format, filename, and path for the deleted data.   

The combined scanning method of Quick Scan and Deep Scan can search all the deleted files and other lost files.

Handle deleted file recovery, formatted file recovery, system crash, and more.

Support NTFS, exFAT, FAT32, and ReFS in Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and Windows Server.

Step 1. Download and install MyRecover on your Windows. Then connect your Micro SD card to this PC.

Step 2. After launching MyRecover, hover the mouse over your connected Micro SD card and click Scan.

Step 3. You can quickly locate your desired video files by Name, Path, Date, or Type. You can also wait to view all the deleted & lost files after the scanning process.

Step 4. Go to the Deleted Files/Recycle Bin/Other Missing Files folder and select the video files you want to restore. Then click the “Recover x files” button.

Related suggestions

How to recover deleted CCTV footage from DVR? Please get an overview of the above data recovery tools. In theory, powerful Windows File Recovery can help you recover data from Micro SD cards.

But in practice, adjusting and resembling command lines is difficult for non-tech users to operate. So why not give the above-recommended software-MyRecover a shot?

If you’ve realized the importance of regular backups, in this case, it’s necessary for you to make disk backups using free backup software for Windows. Because only backups can prevent data loss at the source.